Dr. King often used the term "tension" in the context of the civil rights movement.
Dr. King skillfully turned the negative associations of tension into a positive force by framing it as a necessary and constructive catalyst for change.
He argued that tension was a sign of the urgency and importance of addressing the deep-seated issues of racial injustice. Instead of advocating for complacency or avoiding conflict, he encouraged facing tension head-on in the pursuit of justice and equality.
The tension he referred to was the social and political unrest and conflict arising from the struggle for racial equality and justice. In many of his speeches, he acknowledged that tension existed in society due to the resistance against desegregation and equal rights for African Americans.
In paragraph 24 Dr. King expands on this idea, he emphasize the transformative power of tension.